Work shifting device



My 29, l945 H. c. PIERCE 2,377,034

WORK SHIFTI-NG DEVICE Filed Jgly 20, 1945 J/ ,e3 `32 40 25 /4 v INVENTOR- mmb Irpef.

Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.` jf

WORK sHIFTING DEVICE Harold c. Pierce, Pomona, Calif. Application July 20,' 1943, Serial No. 495,455`

s claims. (C1. zar- 131) .l

This invention has for its primary objectk to provide a simple and low cost device'for shifting heavy work of-various kinds, ytypically filled boxes, barrels and the `like in warehouses, freightv cars, and other places vwhere the loads may require shifting for alinement, or to fully occupy available space, or for any of other various reasons. The present device has proven particularly ad Y vantageous for adjusting the positions of individual, single or multiple tier units of boxed produce in refrigerator car loads. Y f

`In`its preferred form, the device comprises an easily portable combination foot plate andlever assembly adapted to be placed on the floor adjacent the' work, to engage the work with a bearing member or shoe carriedby the lever. The foot plate has a bottom friction surface causing the device to resist displacement by-reaction of the force applied to the work. A particular feature of importance is the mounting of the work-engaging shoe on the lever in a mannerenabling the shoe to adjust itself to the vertical angularity of the worksurface which it engages, and to remain in conformity with the Work surface during the full range of movement of the lever. Also of Special advantage is a simplified form of connection between the shoe and lever permitting easy disconnection and replacement of the shoe.

All the various features and objects of the invention, as well as the details of a typical and preferred embodiment, will be clearly understood from the description to follow, throughout which reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device with the shoe and foot plate appearingdn cross-section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section and plan taken on line 2--2 of Fig.1; and

Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating typical shapes of replacement shoes.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the device comprises a base or foot plate I provided on its under face with suitable means, such as spikes Il inserted within the plate, for frictionally engaging the floor to prevent movement of the plate away from the work asthe work-shifting force is applied by the lever I2. An upstanding curved flange I3 isv provided on the forward end of the foot plate Hl as a stop for positioning the operators foot. which is placed on the plate to hold it in position against the floor. For purposes of simple and low cost manufacture, the forward portion, slotted at I4, of an initia1 plate stock, may be turned and bent upwardly to form arms I6 for mounting of the lever l2. The latter may be pivotally attached to thearm I6 in any suitable manner, as by a pin Il' inserted throughythe parts as illustrated-.in Fig. 2. The arms IE may be reinforced and held against spreading by a cross piece i8 welded to the arms at the back side of the lever.

The upper end 12a of the lever is turnedat an angle, substantially as illustrated, and is provided with a handA grip I9. The lever carriesat its lower end a work engaging shoe, generally indicated at 20, which preferably is mounted for such movement relative to the lever as toenablethe face 2l of the shoe to conform with work surfaces having different vertical angularities, and to remain flatly engaged against the work during "pivotal movement of the lever. While various types of connections permitting pivotal or rockingmove- `ment of the shoe relative to thelever may be, Drovided, it is preferred to use a simple form. ofjoint permitting disconnection and replacement..,of the shoe without having to manipulate any joint parts other than the shoe itself. p Y

In its preferred form, the shoe 2!l.comprises'a plate`22 having an integral lug 23 received withina clevis or bifurcated element` 24 having sides 25 attached to the lever by` pin 26, and a Vsaddle fpiece 21 interconnecting the sides atthe top. The back portion of the lug 23 normally is heldin engagement with the under surface of the part 21 by a coil spring 28 connected by pin 29 to the lug, and by arm 30 to the lever l2. The shoe 20 has a bottom flange 3| which normally is engaged with thebottom surfaces of the sides 25 of clevis 24. As will be apparent, the work-shifting thrust is imparted to the shoe by the engagement of the lug surface by the lever.

In its operation, the device is positioned with the shoe 22 adjacent or in engagement with the trate, if initially the loop portion only of the shoe is engaged with the work, application of force by the lever will cause the shoe to rock or turn on its flange surface of engagement with the under side of the clevis 24, the rear face of the lug 23 at all times bearing against and being supported by the lever. Conversely, if the work engagement initially is at the bottom portion only of the shoe, the latter is permitted to rock or turn at the surface of engagement between lever 23 and the under side of member 21, ample clearance between the lug and lever being provided at 32.

'Ihe shoe may be disconnected from the lever simply by pulling the lug 23 out of the clevis 24. While in Figs. 1 and 2, the shoe is shown to have a working face in the form of a straight plate 22, it will be understood that various other shapes of shoes may be used, or substituted as the occasion demands. To illustrate, Fig. 3 shows a shoe 33 made of angular irons 34 arranged at 90 to fit the corners of boxes. In Fig. 4, the shoe 35 is formed of a curved plate 36 for application to the rounded surfaces of barrels and the like. The

replacement shoes are drilled and tapped at 31 for insertion of the thread pin 29 to connect them with the coil spring.

I claim:

1. In a work shifting device of the character described, a, foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a floor, an upstanding stationary support on said foot plate, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said suDDOrt, and a work engaging shoe carried by the lever at its lower end. I

2. In a work shifting device of the character described, a foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a oor, a pair of upstanding stationary supports on said foot plate,

.vertical angularity of the Work.

4. In a work shifting device of the character described, a foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a floor, an upstanding stationary support on said foot plate, a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said support, a work-engaging shoe carried by the lower portion of the lever and movable from its normal position relative to the lever to conform with the work, and yielding means resisting movement of the shoe from said normal position.

5. In a work shifting device of the character described, a foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a floor, an upstanding lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said foot plate, a member pivotally carried on the lower end portion of the lever, and a work engaging shoe associated with said member and movable independently thereof relative to the lever.

6. In a work shifting device of the character described, a foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a floor, an upstanding lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said' foot plate, a bifurcated member pivotally carried on the lower end portion of the lever, a

work engaging shoe having a lug movably re` ceived within said member, said shoe being capable of rocking movement relative to the lever and independently of said member,` and a spring resisting such movement of the shoe.

7. In a work shifting device of the character described, a metal foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a floor, a pair of upwardly extending twisted arm portions of the foot plate metal at one end of said plate, an upstanding lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends between said arm portions, and a Work-engaging shoe carried by the lower end portion of the lever,

8. In a work shifting device of the character described, a metal foot plate having a bottom friction surface for engagement with a floor, a pair of upwardly extending twisted arm portions of the foot plate metal at one end of said plate, an upwardly projecting foot stop on the top surface of said plate near said end thereof, an upstanding lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends between said arm portions, and a work-engaging shoe carried by the lower end portion of the lever.

HAROLD C. PIERCE. 

